Tyneside passengers endured a nerve-racking landing after their plane developed a technical fault.

Fire crews were scrambled at Newcastle International Airport as the British Airways flight from Gatwick touched the ground, at around 6.30pm on Sunday.

Passengers heard a loud bang as the Boeing 737 landed.

One witness said: "After landing there was a bang and then the aircraft was followed by the airport emergency services."

Fire crews from Gosforth Fire Station and the airport's own dedicated fire team were put on alert.

Gavin Astley, crew manager at Gosforth Fire Station said: "We were there to help the airport crews. There had been a plane coming in and they thought it had burst its tyre on landing. We were there to make sure all the staff got off safely."

A spokeswoman for Newcastle International Airport added: "There was an incident and we did respond with fire engines but no further action was necessary."

A spokesman for British Airways confirmed that no tyres on the plane had burst and that the alert had been caused by an "engine surge".